For Immediate Release
CITY OF NEWARK TO RE-PAVE WASHINGTON STREET FROM BROAD STREET TO MARKET STREET, ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2011 FROM 7 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Sections of the street will be closed to non-emergency traffic;
Access to driveways and other streets may be prohibited;
Project will improve safety of major downtown artery
Newark, NJ October 14, 2011 Mayor Cory A. Booker and Engineering Director Mehdi Mohammadish announced today that the City of Newark will undertake a major re-paving project on Washington Street on Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Market Street to Broad Street.
Washington Street is one of our most important corridors, and we are working to make it convenient for the 21st-century motorist and pedestrian,R21; Mayor Booker said. R20;I congratulate our city’s engineering team on continuing with this important project.
Director Mohammadish urged motorists to plan alternate routes during those times, and allow extra travel time. The repair work on Washington Street is part of our city-wide efforts to improve our streets and make them safer for motorists and pedestrians alike, he said.
While paving is taking place, sections of the street will be closed to non-emergency traffic. During these operations, access to and from driveways and streets may be prohibited. If residents need to enter or leave homes and businesses during the hours of repair work, they should make arrangements to park their vehicles at another location.
The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Rockborn Trucking & Excavation, Inc. of Wharton, New Jersey, is the contractor.
Under the Booker administration, the Department of Engineering has begun a vigorous program of improving the CityR17;s infrastructure. The City of Newark is close to completing the largest park expansion and rehabilitation initiative in more than a century. On July 28, 2009, Newark opened Nat Turner Park, the largest city-owned park. Through public-private partnerships, the City was able to secure $40 million for the parks initiative, in collaboration with GreenSpaces, a public/private partnership, and the Trust for Public Land. Thus far, the City has completed new parks and fields at St. PeterR17;s Park, Kasberger Field, Boys Park, First Street and Thomas Silk Parks, Ironbound B Field, and, in cooperation with Newark Public Schools, has built a new athletic complex at Weequahic High School. Parks have been renovated in every ward throughout the City.
In May 2008, the Department of Engineering won the New Jersey Concrete CommitteeR17;s Merit Award in the Decorative Category for the first phase of the Broad Street Streetscaping, which saw massive renovations to denote the historic nature of the R20;Four CornersR21; intersection at Broad and Market Streets. The project reconstructed sidewalks, created fence panels, installed new street furniture and traffic lights to promote pedestrian safety.
In November 2009, the Department won the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers Honor Place Award in the Municipal Construction Management Projects R20;FR21; Category for the first phase of the Ferry Street Streetscaping Project. The $1.9 million project, funded by the City of Newark and the New Jersey Department of Transportation, was a partnership with the Ironbound Business Improvement District, designed to enhance the IronboundR17;s central artery and gateway to businesses and restaurants in the East Ward, as well as improve safety conditions for pedestrians crossing the busy thoroughfares. Under the program, state-of-the-art sidewalks with planters and decorative lighting were placed down Ferry Street from Union to Madison Streets. These sidewalks improved safety for motorists and pedestrians. The project also reconstructed sidewalks, utilities and drainage, created fence panels and utilized already existing bike paths. New street furniture, signage and traffic lights also enhanced safety for pedestrians.
The Department of Engineering has also undertaken a number of pedestrian safety improvements, highlighted by R20;Project Red Light,R21; a partnership with the Police Department, the Municipal Court, and RedFlex Systems. This automated photo enforcement system snaps pictures of license plates of cars that run red lights at key intersections and automatically sends tickets to the carsR17; owners. Operating since December 2009, this system has made these intersections safer for both motorists and pedestrians.
The Department has also launched a comprehensive rehabilitation of the CityR17;s Recreation centers, Police precincts, firehouses, and other facilities. At the same time, the Department of Engineering has opened new repair facilities for City-owned vehicles, added environmentally-friendly electric cars to its motor fleet, launched green initiatives, and is continuing the restoration of historic City Hall.
For information about this or any other City of Newark policy or program, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.
Contact: Newark Press Information Office: (973) 733-8004.
E-mail: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us
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About the City of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nationR17;s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major commuter and freight rail lines, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.
With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.
For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us
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